Behavior

Rabbits are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk.

Letting your bunny out for exercise while getting ready in the morning
and before dinner in the evening easily fits into the average routine.

"Chinning" an object is a way of marking it. Just as cats have scent
glands on their cheeks and "mark" you by rubbing against you, rabbits
have scent glands under their chins, and will do the same.

Because rabbits are a prey species, they have learned to rely on "escape paths" to return to their places of safety if they feel threatened. Your rabbit may be slow to explore a new space, frequently running back to her home or other safe place until she feels comfortable. Alterations to her pathways (such as a furniture rearrangement, setting down groceries, or moving a box of stuff) may cause your rabbit to react with a "thump" of annoyance. (See below for more on thumps.)

A
favorite pastime of the rabbit is chewing. Rather than try to stop a
natural instinct, try to redirect it from unwanted items – such as
furniture – to toys or wooden chewsticks. Untreated wicker baskets,
paper towel tubes, cat toys, and cardboard make great, inexpensive, and fun toys to
occupy your
bunny.

The other favorite habit a rabbit has is
digging. Since it often can’t do this in its cage, it may try to do it
on your carpet, especially where it meets the wall. Again, try
redirecting the instinct. Provide a box full of somewhat shredded
newspaper or junk mail, where it can happily finish the shredding for you!

Exercise & Bunny-proofing

Rabbits were designed to stay
on the move in the wild. They should not sit idly in a cage forever, but
have time daily to run in a bunny-proofed area.

“Bunny-proofing” means making an area safe for a rabbit. Items rabbits love include cords and wires, carpet, and books.

PVC or fish air tank hoses work great for keeping cords safe from teeth and out of the way.

Even if you think an area is safe, be sure to supervise, at least for
the first three or four sessions. Your rabbit may find something you
missed, or squeeze into an area you didn’t think she could fit into. You
also don’t want to miss the fun of watching her "binky" (see below) once she's
explored the area!

Communication

Rabbits communicate primarily by body language, but also use noises such as grunts, honks, and thumps.

If the ears are laid flat back, the rabbit is either scared or angry.
If it is standing with its body raised and ready to pounce, you should
stay away! If he is tense and trying to be as flat as possible, he is
nervous and scared.

A bunny that runs quickly, zig-zags, jumps
extra high and twists, or even does flips, is a happy bunny! This rabbit
feels safe enough in its environment to run and play. These antics are
often referred to as a "binky" or "binkying."

A rabbit that is "flopped" over or sprawled out is relaxed and comfortable.

A loud "thump" made with both back feet is a signal to other rabbits
that there is danger. If you are trying to catch your bunny, it means "Don’t come any closer!"

Licking shows affection… or you may taste good!

Grooming another bunny shows that the one being groomed is dominant. If
a rabbit comes up to you and puts their head under your hand, he is
saying "pet me!" and if you put your hand under your rabbit's chin and he
nips, he is saying "You are not the boss, I am. You are supposed to pet me!"